Africa farmers, traders and consumers care less about continental ambitions, and instead, care more about whether the road is passable, the rules enable the food to move, the standards are clear, and a buyer is waiting at the other end of the border.
TANZANIA’S AGRICULTURAL TRADE PROBLEM IS NOT PRODUCTION; IT IS POLICY UNCERTAINTY
Tanzania has the ingredients of a strong agricultural trading nation. It has land, diverse agro-ecological zones, a large farming population, access to regional markets, and strategic links to the East African Community, SADC, COMESA and AfCFTA. Agriculture contributes significantly to the economy and employs a large share of the population. Its exports include cashew nuts, coffee, cotton, tobacco, tea, cloves, horticulture and sesame, while staples such as maize and rice remain critical for regional food markets.
GHANA’S FOOD MARKETS ARE REGIONAL; ITS POLICIES MUST START REGULATING THE REAL MARKET
Ghana’s agricultural trade story is often told through cocoa. That is understandable. Cocoa is structured, regulated, globally traded and central to the country’s export identity. Cashew is also increasingly important. These commodities operate through relatively formal systems with clear institutions, established buyers and recognized export channels.
ZAMBIA’S AGRICULTURAL TRADE IN THE AFCFTA ERA: WHY POLICY PREDICTABILITY MATTERS FOR MARKET CONFIDENCE
On 24 March 2026, Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI), a member centre of the Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI), convened a high-level stakeholder dialogue in Lusaka to examine Zambia’s agricultural trade policy environment at a critical moment for the country’s food system. The convening, held under the theme Zambia’s Agricultural Trade in the AfCFTA Era: A Dialogue on Agricultural Trade Policy Predictability and Market Confidence, brought together policymakers, private sector actors, farmer organisations, and regional partners to reflect on how Zambia can better align domestic market policies with emerging regional trade opportunities.
AfCFTA IN ACTION: CAN KENYA BALANCE FOOD SECURITY AND REGIONAL TRADE?
Kenya’s agricultural trade policy sits at a critical intersection. At a recent convening held on 17 March 2026 by Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, a member centre of the Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI), it became clear that the country is navigating a delicate balance between safeguarding domestic food systems and advancing its commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), East African Community (EAC), and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
UGANDA’S AGRICULTURAL TRADE UNDER AfCFTA: WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
Agriculture remains central to the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It drives food security, employment, export growth, and industrialisation across the continent. Yet agricultural trade in Africa has become increasingly unpredictable. Export bans, certification requirements, border restrictions, and sudden regulatory shifts have disrupted supply chains and weakened confidence in regional markets. Moving from trade agreements on paper to trade in practice now requires greater policy coherence and stronger evidence.
NAVIGATING GLOBAL DISRUPTIONS AND BUILDING RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS IN AFRICA
The first session of the Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes Stakeholders Conference offered powerful insights on how Africa can strengthen its food systems amid growing global uncertainty. Key points included:
• Global disruptions are now constant, making resilience an urgent priority.
• Smarter investments, stronger institutions, and evidence-led decisions are essential.
• Coordination across public, private, and development partners remains central to effective response.
• Shrinking donor funding means governments must achieve more with limited resources.
• Agriculture will attract young people when it becomes profitable and better organised.
• Advancing the AfCFTA and addressing policy harmonisation gaps will unlock greater intra-African trade.